4 min readChandigarhNov 9, 2023 09:15 AM IST
First published on: Nov 9, 2023 at 09:13 AM IST
Despite repeated reminders to motorists to park their vehicles inside government schools near the markets, motorists are still parking their vehicles at the markets, leaving the huge space inside the schools unused.
At least 50 government schools across the city were identified to use as parking lots during the ongoing festival season till Diwali. The government schools which were identified are located in almost all the sectors, including 7, 8, 9, 18, 19, 22, 34, 35, 45, Mani Majra, and Sector 13.
The UT education department had allowed the use of their schools for the parking purpose on the request of the Chandigarh traffic police.
A visit to Sector 19 market showed overcrowded parking lots where vehicles were parked in an unsystematic manner along with parking of vehicles right outside the houses located near the market. Although a banner was installed at the market showing a mark towards the government school, Sector 19, for parking of vehicles, merely five cars were found parked inside the school.
Raghu Sharma, a shopkeeper in Sector 19, said, “There are two government schools in Sector 19C and Sector 19D. The capacity of the two schools is to accommodate at least 175 vehicles but people are not willing to park their vehicles in schools, the reason best known to them.”
SSP (Traffic & Security) Manisha Chaudhary said: “Our teams deployed at markets are making announcements and have also put up signboards to guide public to use these additional parking spaces. We are also issuing challans against wrong parking at markets, clamping and towing away wrongly parked vehicles. However, cooperation and understanding of public is required as these arrangements are being made for their convenience only.”
On November 3, an ASI, Isher Singh, deputed for managing the traffic at Sector 18 market was thrashed by an occupant of SUV who was asked by the former to shift his four-wheeler from the roadside to inside the market. The assailant had escaped with his SUV bearing Punjab registration number.
The UT education department had allowed the use of their schools for the parking purpose on the request of the Chandigarh traffic police.
There are two government schools in Sector 19 where parking of vehicles was allowed till October 14. “One of the reasons why people are not interested in parking their vehicles inside the government schools is the lack of security. Secondly, many of the schools are far away from the markets. It is not advisable for senior citizens, women with their children to park their vehicles in schools and then come to markets for shopping,” said Arvind Jain, president of Sector 22 Market Welfare Association.
Three government schools which were earmarked for the parking of vehicles are located at a distance from the market. A traffic police officer said, “We have been repeatedly advising people to park their vehicles in the government schools. At certain places, we are receiving good response but at most of the places, people are preferring to come to the markets. We observed that people coming from neighbouring cities, including Panchkula, Mohali and Ambala, are unaware of the parking lots in government schools. People are advised to park their vehicles in the schools after dropping their relatives at the markets.”
There were not many takers for available parking space in two government schools out of three in Mani Majra, Sector 13.
Our teams deployed in markets are making announcements and have also put up sign boards to guide public to use these additional parking spaces. We are also issuing challans against wrong parking in markets, clamping and towing away wrongly parked vehicles. However, cooperation and understanding of people is required as these arrangements are being made for their convenience”, SSP (Traffic & Security) Manisha Chaudhary, said.
Empty parking at a government school in Sector 19, Chandigarh. (Jasbir Malhi) 
The UT education department had allowed the use of their schools for the parking purpose on the request of the Chandigarh traffic police.
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